Garbage-crematory



(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. JOHNSON. GARBAGE GREMATORY.

No. 556,420. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

(No Model.) W L- JOHNSON -2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' GARBAGE OREMATORY.

No. 556,420. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

NITED STATES IVILLIAM L. JOHNSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GARBAGE-CREMATORY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,420, dated March 1'7, 1896.

Application filed May 18, 1895.

To (all zuhmn it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM L. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garbage Crematories, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to garbage-crematories, but is more especially designed as an improvement upon the invention set forth in Letters Patent No. 516,706, granted to me March 20, 1894, forimprovements in garbage crematories. In said Letters Patent are shown two grates, one above the other, in one instance oppositely inclined and fed from opposite ends, and in the other instance inclined in the same direction and fed from the same end, blasts being employed to move the garbage along the grates. I have found by practice that two grates, one above the other, are not advantageous and may prove objectionable when burning miscellaneous garbage, composed of eighty (80) or ninety (90) per cent. of ashes, tin cans and such like refuse, as there is liability to clogging, and considerable more watching and labor are required to keep the furnace clear and in good working order. I have also learned by practice that it is advantageous to so locate the blasts that they serve to break up and rend the garbage, even the bodies of animals, in addition to their function of moving the garbage along the furnace. I have also found it advantageous to have the furnace reverberatory in character and with the grates so disposed therein as to discharge upon a common grate located in the reverberating chamber, from whence the products of combustion escape at two different points along the height of the furnace.

With these ends in View my invention has for its object a simple, economical, and effectual arrangement of the grates, tuyeres, reverberating walls, and vents connecting the furnace with the chimney, so that the grate shall have a gravity-feed with propulsive blast-pipes contiguous to the grate and an agitative blast-pipe situated below the grate, and adapted to disintegrate the mass and suspend Serial No. 549,776. (No model.)

portions thereof within the combustion-chambcr, whereby these desirable results may be attained. These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a central longitudinal vertical section through a garbage-crematory embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 an enlarged detail vertical section through one of the tuyeres.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, Aindicates the side and end walls, and B the roof, of the furnace or crematory,

about thirty-eight (38) feet six (6) inches long by ten (10) feet six (6) inches wide, outside measurements, with side and end walls composed of seventeen (17) inches common brick, lined with nine (9) inches of fire-brick, and the roof or arch composed of eighteen (18) inches of fire-brick, making the furnacechamber proper about six (0) feet wide by about thirty-four (34) feet in length.

Extending from near the top of the f urnacechamber at the side wall to near the bottom thereof and spanning the Width of the furnace are two oppositely-inclined grates C lying at an angle of about sixty-five degrees, and resting upon a series of arches D composed of fire-brick.

The garbage is deposited in the hoppers E upon the exterior of the furnace at the upper ends of the grate-bars and feeds by gravity along said bars, the lower ends of which bars terminate about four (4.) or five (5) feet from each other and just above a horizontal grate F, which extends at either side under the end of the oblique grate-bars O, and are designed to receive that portion of the garbage which is not burned sufliciently fine in its passage through the furnace to pass between the gratebars of the grate O. The finer portions of the garbage, or the ashes that result from the burning, fall between the grate-bars of the inclined grates onto the reverberating walls G, which underlie the grate O and extend sub the one I have constructed and tested being stantially parallel therewith, these reverberating walls terminating in about a vertical plane with the ends of the grate F and at the edges of the ash-pit 11, into which all of the ashes are discharged, both from the reverberating walls and the grates.

At one or both sides of the ash-pit is provided a port I, through which the ashes may be removed from the ash-pit, said port being ordinarily closed by a heavy metal door, and just above the grate F a smaller port .I is provided, through which any possible clinkers may be raked from the grate, although it is primarily intended as a peep-hole through which to observe the working of the furnace.

Immediately above the grate F and opposing the lower ends of the inclined grate C is avent K leading to the smoke-stack L, while near the top of the furnace another vent, M, is provided, also leading to the chimney, but of greater capacity than the vent K. Through these two vents the products of combustion and burning gases pass to the chimney.

At each end of the furnace and just below the upper ends of the grates O are located tuyeres or blast-pipes O, which pierce the walls and afford passages through which the burning blasts are admitted to the interior of the furnace, these tuyeres or blast-pipes being located at the center of width of the grates, so as to direct the blast toward the under side of the grates below the point where the garbage is fed into the furnace, thus producing agitative blasts which disintegrate the mass and suspend portions thereof within the combustion-chamber. If desired, other tuyeres I may also be located just above the upper end of the grate in the end walls, at each side of the openings Q, through which the garbage is fed into the furnace, but I have found by practice that these last-mentioned tuyeres are not essential to the operativeness of my furnace.

Above the grates (3, near the lower ends thereof, are arranged other tuyeres or blastpipes R, projected through the side walls of the furnace at each side, and below the other grates are arranged still other tuyeres or blastpipes S toward the lower ends of the grates and projecting through the opposite side walls of the furnace. As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, all of these tuyeres or blastpipes point toward the center of the furnace, those at one side of the furnace and on opposite side walls being directed toward the center of the furnace in crossing lines and those at the other side of the furnace being oppositely arranged to the first set. In other words, the tuyeres for one of the grates (J correspond in number and location with the tuyeres for the'other grate, but are arranged in exactly opposite positions. Through each of these tuyeres or blast-pipes is directed into the furnace a burning-blast of any suitable character, the one more commonly used and the one employed by me in the furnace which I have constructed being designed for using a steam-jet to deliver hydrocarbon into the mixing-chamber of an ordinary burner, the air for combustion being furnished through the tuyere, which is greater in diameter than the diameter of the burner. These tuyeres or blast-pipes produce propulsive blasts arranged obliquely to and having substantially the same direction as that of the travel of the refuse matter. In Fig. 4 I have illustrated in detail one of these tuyeres with a type of the hydrocarbon-burner, and it will be observed that the tuyeres are all funnel shaped and flare inwardly or toward the inner face of the wall through which they are projected, so as to alford opportunity for the spreading of the fiame-jet which is delivered to the furnace in the shape of a blast.

Then the garbage is delivered to the furnace through the doors Q, (which may be i closed at intervals or permanently open, as desired,) it falls upon the sharply-slopin g grates and is instantly struck by the agitative blast through the tuyeres O, directed toward the under side of the grate, and any lumps or solid matter are broken up and rended, and in the case of the lighter particles may be blown to the opposite side of the furnace. On their further passage down the grate they are subjected to the successive cross-blasts from the propulsive tuyeres or blast-pipes R and S, which serve to keep up a constant commotion inside of the furnace where the iinelydivided garbage is subjected toa temperature of 3,500 Fahrenheit. The passage of the garbage through the furnace is exceedingly rapid, and I have found by practical demonstration that about forty (40) tons of garbage per hour can be completely consumed by the furnace without any smoke or other evidence of combustion except flame passing out of the chimney and leaving a residue of less than three (3) tons, which can be easily raked out of the ash-pit and removed by one man. The garbage so operated upon consisted of about ninety per cent. of ashes, the remaining ten (10%) per cent. being made up of kitchen refuse of vegetable and animal matter, broken crockery, tin cans and the like.

I have also found that with a furnace constructed as herein shown and described, if the quantity of garbage to be burned is small or limited in supply, but a single side of the furnace may be used with perfectly satisfactory results, thus greatly reducing the cost of cremation. After the temperature of the furnace is once raised to the desired degree it can be easily maintained at that degree by the use of the tuyeres O, R, and S alone, notwithstanding the constant discharge therein of fresh garbage just as it is taken from the houses without any previous treatment of the garbage by screening or other mode of separating it, and if the garbage be delivered to both hoppers E by conveyors from the dump forty (40) tons per hour can be easily handled by a crematory of the dimensions hereinbefore given. Of course I do not desire to limit myself to these dimensions nor to the quantities or amounts herein mentioned, these dimensions, quantities, and amounts being stated simply because they are the result of a practical demonstration of my invention, which, of course, may be varied to meet the exigencies of different cases and conditions.

The two vents K and H from the furnace are also advantageous features, in that they permit the escape of the lighter gases and products of combustion in the upper part of the furnace, and thereby avoid the danger of puffing or blowing the flame out through the feed-hoppers, while the lower vent permits the escape of the heavier and princpal products of combustion and maintains a powerful downward draft, which carries the heat down to thelower part of the furnace to act upon the heavier garbage, which may pass the full length of the inclined grates. The disv position of the tuyeres or blast-pipes S beneath the inclined grates produces a powerful reverberatory heat from the walls G, which materially assist in the almost instantaneous cremation of the garbage, whether it be of the finer particles which may fall upon the walls or the heavier particles during their passage along the grates. The arrangement of the blasts through the tuyeres is such that the garbage is constantly kept in motion along the grates, and the blasts are so strong that the garbage becomes instantly finely divided, in which condition it can be much more rapidly, thoroughly, and effectually cremated.

No noxious gases are given ofi by the furnace, in which the combustion is as near perfoot as possible, said gases, as well as all animal life, being consumed in the furnace.

\Vhile I have shown and described the oppositely-in clined gravity-fed grates in my furnace, I do not desire to limit myself to such construction, the essential feature of my invention being a grate with gravity-feed propulsive blast-pipes contiguous to the grates, an agitative blast-pipe below the grate and adapted to disintegrate the mass and suspend portions thereof within the combustionchamber.

In a more limited sense my invention consists in having the propulsive blast-pipes situated both above and below the grate, and

in practice it is preferable that the propulsive blast-pipes be arranged obliquely to and yet have substantially the same direction as that of the travel of the refuse matter, while the agitative blast-pipe, located below the grate, is directed toward the under side thereof, or at an angle to the-plane of the grate.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

' 1. Ina garbage-crematory, the combination of a grate with gravity-feed, propulsive blastpipes contiguous to the grate, and an agitative blast-pipe situated below the grate and adapted to disintegrate the mass, and to suspend portions thereof within the combustion chamber, substantially as described. I

2. In a garbage-crematory, the combination of a grate with gravity-feed, propulsive blastpipes contiguous to the grate, said pipes being situated above and below the grate, and an agitative blast-pipe situated below the grate, and adapted to disintegrate the mass and suspend portions thereof within the combustion-chamber, substantially as described.

3. In a garbage-crematory, the combination of a grate with gravity-feed, propulsive blastpipes contiguous to the grate, an agitative blast-pipe situated below the grate, and adapted to disintegrate the mass and suspend portions thereof within the combustion-chamber, and vents near the top and bottom of the combustion-chamber leading to a common chimney, substantially as described.

4. In a garbage-crematory, the combination of a grate with gravity-feed, propulsive blastpipes contiguous to the grate, a reverberating wall underlying the grate, and an agitative blast-pipe situated below the grate, and adapted to disintegrate the mass and suspend portions thereof within the combustion-chamber, substantially as described.

5. Ina garbage-crematory, the combination of a grate with gravity-feed, propulsive blastpipes contiguous to the grate, a reverberating wall underlying the grate, an agitative blastpipe situated below the grate, and adapted to disintegrate the mass and suspend portions thereof within the combustion-chamber, and vents near the top and bottom of the combustion-chamber leading to a common chimney, substantially as described. 7

6. In a garbage-crematory, the combination of a pair of oppositely-inclined grates with gravity-feed, whose lower ends oppose each other near the center of length of the combustion-chamber, a series of oppositely-disposed propulsive blast-pipes arranged obliquely to, and having substantially the same direction as, that of the travel of the refuse matter, and agitative blast-pipes near the upper ends of said grates, directed toward the under side thereof, substantially as described.

7. In a garbage-crematory, the combination of a pair of oppositely-inclined grates with gravity-feed, whose lower ends oppose each other near the center of length of the combustion-chamber, a horizontal grate below the opposing ends of the inclined grates, a series of oppositely-disposed propulsive blast-pipes arranged obliquely to, and having substantially the same direction as, that of the travel of the refuse matter, and agitative blast-pipes near the upper ends of said inclined grates directed toward the under side thereof, substantially as described.

IIO

8. In a garbage-crematory, the combination of a pair of oppositely-inclined grates with gravity-feed, whose lower ends oppose each other near the center of length of the combustion-chamber, a horizontal grate below the opposing ends of said inclined grates, a series of oppositely-disposed propulsive blast-pipes arranged obliquely to, and having substantially the same direction as, that of the travel of the refuse matter, agitative blast-pipes near the upper end of said inclined grates directed toward the under side thereof, and vents near the top and bottom of the combustion-chamber, leading to a common chimney, substantially as described.

9. In a garbage-crematory, the combination of a furnace constructed to have oppositelyinclined reverberating walls declining toward the center of the furnace and constituting the floor of the combustion-chamber, oppositelyinclined grates extending substantially parallel with said reverberating walls and having a gravity-feed, a series of oppositely-disposed propulsive blast-pipes situated above and below the grates and arranged obliquely to, and having substantially the same direction as, that of the travel of the refuse matter, and agitative blast-pipes near the upper ends of said grates, above the reverberating walls, directed toward the under side of said grates, substantially as described.

10. In a garbage-crematory, the combinaton of a furnace constructed to have oppositely-inclined reverberating walls declining toward the center of the furnace and constituting the floor of the combustion-chamber, an ash-pit interposed between said Walls, oppositely-inclined grates extending substantially parallel with said reverberating Walls and having a gravity-feed, a horizontal grate lying between the lower ends of said inclined grates and the ash-pit, a series of oppositelydisposed propulsive blast-pipes located above and below said inclined grates and arranged obliquely to, and having substantially the same direction as, that of the travel of the refuse matter, and agitative blast-pipes near the upper ends of said inclined grates above the reverberating Walls and directed toward the under side of said inclined grates, a vent near the top of the combustion-chamber and a similar vent in a plane substantially coincident with the lower ends of the inclined grates, substantially as described.

\VILLIAM L. JOHNSON. itnesses:

\V. R. OMOHUNDRO, M. E. SHIELDS. 

